08/01/2007
NEWS STORY
Following the announcement that the team will unveil its 2007 contender next Sunday, ahead of its track debut the following day, Ferrari boss Jean Todt has repeated the claim that the Italian team will allow its two drivers, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, to race one another this year, declaring that there will be no number one.
"It will be a healthy competition between two drivers that could create great results," said the Frenchman, according to The Daily Mail. "We will be very careful to make sure that this internal rivalry does not become counterproductive. The interests of Ferrari are what is most important, and Raikkonen and Massa know this law very well."
The comments will cause a wry smile in the pitlane, for though team founder Enzo Ferrari had always claimed that a number one driver was a luxury he could not afford, there was no doubting who ruled the roost during the Schumacher era, even if team orders were rarely needed.
Ahead of this week's annual media event at Madonna di Campiglio, Todt was also adamant that Schumacher - who has been designated the role of 'super assistant - still has an important role to play at Maranello: "We intend to take advantage of his knowledge and experience, which I believe only he has in the world," said the Frenchman.
Massa will drive the new Ferrari next Monday (15), with Kimi Raikkonen making his debut for the Italian team a week later, at Mugello.